Role Overview
The Cost Research Advisor at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is responsible for driving the organization's learning agenda regarding cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This role involves conducting rigorous analyses, providing technical assistance to program designers, and translating complex data into policy-relevant narratives to improve humanitarian outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Conduct Research
- In collaboration with IRC colleagues, refine the learning agenda and research questions for one or more focus areas or interventions (e.g., Safe at Home).
- Conduct cost-efficiency analyses, cost-effectiveness analyses, and scenario modeling.
- Develop, maintain, and update program-specific data sets.
- Synthesize internal and external cost evidence to make broader quantitative and qualitative assessments of a program area’s cost-effectiveness and parameters for success.
Provide Technical Assistance
- Develop organizational learnings and recommendations for specific outcome areas or interventions.
- Provide ongoing technical assistance to IRC colleagues and partner organizations to help inform decisions with cost evidence.
- Support proposal development to increase the cost-effectiveness of proposals and program designs.
- Re-package evidence into accessible user-friendly tools to increase their usability.
- Collaborate with advocacy and policy colleagues to translate research findings into accessible and persuasive external collateral.
Cross-cutting Responsibilities
- Contribute to reporting, including writing, delivering presentations, and supporting communications staff.
Requirements and Qualifications
Work Experience
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in economics, statistics, public policy, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3+ years of experience (with a bachelor’s degree) or 2+ years of experience (with a Master’s degree) in the humanitarian or development sector.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies
- Strong knowledge of cost analysis evaluation methodologies, applications, and literature in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Excellent proficiency in spreadsheet-based data cleaning and analysis.
- Ability to interpret complex technical findings and translate them into compelling evidence-aligned policy narratives.
- Excellent writing and editing skills, with experience producing policy-relevant research reports.
- Experience managing coalitions, partnerships, or multi-stakeholder initiatives.
- Familiarity with donor landscapes and funding mechanisms in humanitarian aid.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a remote team across time zones, cultures, and contexts.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools (e.g., Notion).
- Fluency in English.
Strongly Preferred
- Proficiency in statistical analysis software.
- Proficiency in data visualization software.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative evidence synthesis skills.
- Experience writing peer-reviewed publications.
- Experience developing and using AI tools to increase research quality and efficiency.
- At least 2+ years of work experience in low- or middle-income countries.
- Work proficiency in French (preferred).
